Diabetes Mellitus: diagnosis and treatment

Throughout the process of diagnosis, evaluation and institution of a treatment regime, the physician-nurse practitioner team is essential for patients with diabetes mellitus. Initial consultation with the physician regarding the issues of diagnosis, insulin dose and type, and patient symptomatology relative to hyper/hypoglycemic reactions is necessary. Nursing assessments and implementation of teaching plans are also invaluable in assisting with control of hyperglycemia, adaptation and response to individual variations of this chronic disease, and continuous on-going bio-psycho-social care.